HYDERABAD: Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Director Saddiqullah Khan said that the Directorate launched the biggest crackdown on illegally imported POL products during 3rd Quarter of current financial year where the Directorate seized 366370 liters of Iranian origin smuggled diesel which could cause huge loss to the national exchequer.

Sadiqullal Khan, the first ever Director posted at Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) Hayderabad talking with Customs Today during an exclusive interview said that Directorate has purposed to Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for establishment of new Filed Intelligence Unit at Jacobabad region for controlling illegal activities of smuggled goods and narcotics.

The directorate of I&I is performing its duties throughout a vast area while facing shortage of staff, he said and added that presently the Directorate has 20 sepoys who are working under the long jurisdiction of the Directorate of I&I Hyderabad.

He notified that the Directorate comprises one Range office at Sukkur along with regional office. The Directorate of I&I Hyderabad was established in 2017 but it is now a fully operational Directorate where the small team works round-the-clock to monitor a vast area but efforts are being made to induct more staff to enhance performance and catch notorious elements.

Sadiqullah Khan said that the directorate has developed a close working relationship with Sindh Rangers and “we have conducted joint raids against smuggled goods and narcotics”. He added that I&I Hyderabad is continuing its drive against smuggling while it has seized huge quantity of smuggled foreign origin items worth Rs 147.919 million in 60 seizure cases during 3rd Quarter (Jan to March) of financial year (FY) 2018-19.

The Director I&I Hyderabad said that the newly established Directorate also collected revenue worth Rs 18.942 million and deposited the same in the national exchequer. The Director said that the Directorate of I&I is making all-out efforts to curb smuggling and evasion of duty & taxes with modicum resources to monitor the vast area.

The Directorate collected Rs 13.380 million by conducting auctions of the confiscated goods. The staff and officers of Directorate have been directed to exhibit thorough professionalism, dedication and firm resolve to curb the scourge of smuggling, he concluded.